1
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Dersch R, Rauer S. Efficacy and safety of pharmacological treatments for Lyme neuroborreliosis: An updated systematic review. Eur J Neurol 2023; 30:3780-3788. [PMID: 37565386 DOI: 10.1111/ene.16034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence-based recommendations for treatment of Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) should rely on the available literature. As new data emerges, close review and evaluation of the recent literature is needed to build evidence-based recommendations to inform clinical practice and management of LNB. We performed an update of a previous systematic review on treatment of LNB. METHODS A systematic literature search of Medline and CENTRAL was performed for published studies from 2015 to 2023 to update a previous systematic review. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized studies (NRS) were evaluated. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tools for RCTs; NRS were assessed using the ROBINS-I-tool. Quality of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Data were integrated into an existing meta-analysis of the available literature. RESULTS After screening 1530 records, two RCTs and five NRS with new and relevant data were additionally identified. Meta-analysis showed no statistically significant difference between doxycycline and beta-lactam antibiotics regarding residual neurological symptoms after 12 months. Meta-analysis showed no benefit of extended antibiotic treatment of LNB. Three NRS show no benefit for additional steroid use in LNB with facial palsy. DISCUSSION Additional incorporated recent research corroborates existing guideline recommendations for treatment of LNB. New RCTs add to the certainty of previous analysis showing similar efficacy for doxycycline and beta-lactam antibiotics in LNB. Available evidence shows no benefit for extended antibiotic treatment in LNB. NRS do not suggest a role for steroids in facial palsy due to LNB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rick Dersch
- Clinic of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Rauer
- Clinic of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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2
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Cheurfa C, Tsokani S, Kontouli KM, Boutron I, Chaimani A. Empirical evaluation of the methods used in systematic reviews including observational studies and randomized trials. J Clin Epidemiol 2023; 158:44-52. [PMID: 36822441 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2023.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the methodological characteristics of systematic reviews and meta-analyses including observational studies (OSs) and randomized controlled trials (RCTs), in various medical disciplines. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING We searched Medline via PubMed to identify systematic reviews of interventions including RCTs and OSs published in 110 journals from 2015 to 2019. We extracted in duplicate general and methodological characteristics of the systematic review. RESULTS We identified 402 systematic reviews. Only 39% (n=160) of them reported the availability of a pre-established protocol. A rationale for including observational data in the systematic review was clearly reported in 25% (n=102) of the systematic reviews. Thirty-two percent (n=130) of the reviews reported a search strategy intending to identify published and unpublished data for RCTs and OSs. The risk of bias of the individual studies was assessed in 89% (n=359) of the systematic reviews. In 74% (n=266) it was assessed for both RCTs and OSs; 180 (50%) used different tools. Information about confounding factors was reported in only 11% of systematic reviews and the type of effect estimates (crude or adjusted) used was specified in only 22% of the systematic reviews. Among the 385 systematic reviews that performed data synthesis, only 132 (33%) pooled OSs and RCTs in the same meta-analysis. CONCLUSION Including OSs in systematic reviews of interventions could provide useful information but such an approach could also be misleading; thus, several methodological details are needed to ensure appropriate handling of OS and valid results. Our study revealed, though, that substantial methodological information is missing in reports published in high impact factor general and specialty journals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherifa Cheurfa
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, INRAE, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), F-75004 Paris, France; Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, AP-HP, Cochin Hospital, F-75004 Paris France.
| | - Sofia Tsokani
- Department of Primary Education, School of Education, University of Ioannina, Greece
| | | | - Isabelle Boutron
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, INRAE, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), F-75004 Paris, France; Centre d'Épidémiologie Clinique, AP-HP, Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu, F-75004 Paris, France; Cochrane France, Paris, France
| | - Anna Chaimani
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm, INRAE, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), F-75004 Paris, France; Cochrane France, Paris, France
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3
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Mahfooz K, Vasavada AM, Joshi A, Pichuthirumalai S, Andani R, Rajotia A, Hans A, Mandalia B, Dayama N, Younas Z, Hafeez N, Bheemisetty N, Patel Y, Tumkur Ranganathan H, Sodala A. Waterpipe Use and Its Cardiovascular Effects: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Case-Control, Cross-Sectional, and Non-Randomized Studies. Cureus 2023; 15:e34802. [PMID: 36915837 PMCID: PMC10008028 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.34802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 100 million people globally smoke cigarettes, making it a significant and quickly spreading global tobacco epidemic. Substance use disorders are frequently evaluated by non-randomized studies. Tobacco use and its impacts on the cardiovascular system were the subjects of a comprehensive search across five electronic databases: Cochrane, MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and PubMed. The findings demonstrated that waterpipe smokers in comparison to non-smokers have immediate elevations in heart rate and blood pressure, lower levels of high-density lipoprotein, higher levels of low-density lipoprotein, higher levels of triglycerides, higher levels of fasting blood glucose, and a higher heart rate. Users of waterpipes and cigarettes had similar average heart rates, blood pressure, and lipid levels, with the exception that waterpipe smokers had greater total cholesterol. Smoking a waterpipe has significant negative effects on the cardiovascular system comparable to cigarette smoking, and non-randomized studies proved to yield substantial evidence related to its cardiovascular effects. Such study designs can be used to evaluate substance use and its cardiovascular impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamran Mahfooz
- Internal Medicine, Lincoln Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Advait M Vasavada
- Internal Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA.,Medicine, Shri M. P. Shah Government Medical College, Jamnagar, IND
| | - Arpit Joshi
- Medicine, B. J. (Byramjee Jeejeebhoy) Medical, Ahmedabad, IND
| | | | - Rupesh Andani
- Internal Medicine, Jeevandhara Hospital, Jamnagar, IND
| | | | - Aakash Hans
- Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, USA
| | - Bilvesh Mandalia
- House Officer, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital and Medical College, Sion Mumbai, Mumbai, IND
| | - Neeraj Dayama
- Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, USA
| | - Zara Younas
- Medicine, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, PAK
| | | | - Niharika Bheemisetty
- Pediatrics, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA
| | - Yash Patel
- Medicine, Gujarat Cancer Society Medical College, Ahmedabad, IND
| | | | - Ashok Sodala
- Medicine, Shri M. P. Shah Government Medical College, Jamnagar, IND
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4
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Seo M, Debray TP, Ruffieux Y, Gsteiger S, Bujkiewicz S, Finckh A, Egger M, Efthimiou O. Combining individual patient data from randomized and non-randomized studies to predict real-world effectiveness of interventions. Stat Methods Med Res 2022; 31:1355-1373. [PMID: 35469504 PMCID: PMC9251754 DOI: 10.1177/09622802221090759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials is generally considered the most reliable source of estimates of relative treatment effects. However, in the last few years, there has been interest in using non-randomized studies to complement evidence from randomized controlled trials. Several meta-analytical models have been proposed to this end. Such models mainly focussed on estimating the average relative effects of interventions. In real-life clinical practice, when deciding on how to treat a patient, it might be of great interest to have personalized predictions of absolute outcomes under several available treatment options. This paper describes a general framework for developing models that combine individual patient data from randomized controlled trials and non-randomized study when aiming to predict outcomes for a set of competing medical interventions applied in real-world clinical settings. We also discuss methods for measuring the models' performance to identify the optimal model to use in each setting. We focus on the case of continuous outcomes and illustrate our methods using a data set from rheumatoid arthritis, comprising patient-level data from three randomized controlled trials and two registries from Switzerland and Britain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Seo
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, 27210University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Graduate School for Health Sciences, 27210University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Pa Debray
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, 8125Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Smart Data Analysis and Statistics B.V., Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Yann Ruffieux
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, 27210University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sandro Gsteiger
- Pharmaceuticals Division, Global Access, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sylwia Bujkiewicz
- Biostatistics Research Group, Department of Health Sciences, 4488University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Axel Finckh
- Division of Rheumatology, 30576University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Egger
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, 27210University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Orestis Efthimiou
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, 27210University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Psychiatry, 6396University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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5
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Syrogiannouli L, Wildisen L, Meuwese C, Bauer DC, Cappola AR, Gussekloo J, den Elzen WPJ, Trompet S, Westendorp RGJ, Jukema JW, Ferrucci L, Ceresini G, Åsvold BO, Chaker L, Peeters RP, Imaizumi M, Ohishi W, Vaes B, Völzke H, Sgarbi JA, Walsh JP, Dullaart RPF, Bakker SJL, Iacoviello M, Rodondi N, Del Giovane C. Incorporating Baseline Outcome Data in Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis of Non-randomized Studies. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:774251. [PMID: 35273528 PMCID: PMC8902696 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.774251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In non-randomized studies (NRSs) where a continuous outcome variable (e.g., depressive symptoms) is assessed at baseline and follow-up, it is common to observe imbalance of the baseline values between the treatment/exposure group and control group. This may bias the study and consequently a meta-analysis (MA) estimate. These estimates may differ across statistical methods used to deal with this issue. Analysis of individual participant data (IPD) allows standardization of methods across studies. We aimed to identify methods used in published IPD-MAs of NRSs for continuous outcomes, and to compare different methods to account for baseline values of outcome variables in IPD-MA of NRSs using two empirical examples from the Thyroid Studies Collaboration (TSC). METHODS For the first aim we systematically searched in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane from inception to February 2021 to identify published IPD-MAs of NRSs that adjusted for baseline outcome measures in the analysis of continuous outcomes. For the second aim, we applied analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), change score, propensity score and the naïve approach (ignores the baseline outcome data) in IPD-MA from NRSs on the association between subclinical hyperthyroidism and depressive symptoms and renal function. We estimated the study and meta-analytic mean difference (MD) and relative standard error (SE). We used both fixed- and random-effects MA. RESULTS Ten of 18 (56%) of the included studies used the change score method, seven (39%) studies used ANCOVA and one the propensity score (5%). The study estimates were similar across the methods in studies in which groups were balanced at baseline with regard to outcome variables but differed in studies with baseline imbalance. In our empirical examples, ANCOVA and change score showed study results on the same direction, not the propensity score. In our applications, ANCOVA provided more precise estimates, both at study and meta-analytical level, in comparison to other methods. Heterogeneity was higher when change score was used as outcome, moderate for ANCOVA and null with the propensity score. CONCLUSION ANCOVA provided the most precise estimates at both study and meta-analytic level and thus seems preferable in the meta-analysis of IPD from non-randomized studies. For the studies that were well-balanced between groups, change score, and ANCOVA performed similarly.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lea Wildisen
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christiaan Meuwese
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Douglas C Bauer
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Departments of Medicine and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Anne R Cappola
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jacobijn Gussekloo
- Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Wendy P J den Elzen
- Atalmedial Diagnostics Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Stella Trompet
- Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Rudi G J Westendorp
- Department of Public Health and Center for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - J Wouter Jukema
- Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Netherlands Heart Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- Longitudinal Studies Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Graziano Ceresini
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Onco-Endocrinology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Bjørn O Åsvold
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, K.G. Jebsen Center for Genetic Epidemiology, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Endocrinology, Clinic of Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Layal Chaker
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Robin P Peeters
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Misa Imaizumi
- Department of Clinical Studies, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Waka Ohishi
- Department of Clinical Studies, Radiation Effects Research Foundation, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Bert Vaes
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Henry Völzke
- Institute for Community Medicine, Clinical-Epidemiological Research, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Josè A Sgarbi
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina de Marilia, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - John P Walsh
- Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.,Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Robin P F Dullaart
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Stephan J L Bakker
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Massimo Iacoviello
- Cardiology Unit, University Hospital Policlinico Consorziale of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Nicolas Rodondi
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Cinzia Del Giovane
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Population Health Laboratory (#PopHealthLab), University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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6
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Gao Q, Zhang Y, Liang J, Sun H, Wang T. High-dimensional generalized propensity score with application to omics data. Brief Bioinform 2021; 22:6354024. [PMID: 34410351 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbab331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Propensity score (PS) methods are popular when estimating causal effects in non-randomized studies. Drawing causal conclusion relies on the unconfoundedness assumption. This assumption is untestable and is considered more plausible if a large number of pre-treatment covariates are included in the analysis. However, previous studies have shown that including unnecessary covariates into PS models can lead to bias and efficiency loss. With the ever-increasing amounts of available data, such as the omics data, there is often little prior knowledge of the exact set of important covariates. Therefore, variable selection for causal inference in high-dimensional settings has received considerable attention in recent years. However, recent studies have focused mainly on binary treatments. In this study, we considered continuous treatments and proposed the generalized outcome-adaptive LASSO (GOAL) to select covariates that can provide an unbiased and statistically efficient estimation. Simulation studies showed that when the outcome model was linear, the GOAL selected almost all true confounders and predictors of outcome and excluded other covariates. The accuracy and precision of the estimates were close to ideal. Furthermore, the GOAL is robust to model misspecification. We applied the GOAL to seven DNA methylation datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, which covered four brain regions, to estimate the causal effects of epigenetic aging acceleration on the incidence of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Gao
- Department of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jie Liang
- Department of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Hongwei Sun
- Department of Health Statistics, School of Public Health and Management, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Tong Wang
- Department of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
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7
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Jreich R, Sebastien B. Comparison of statistical methodologies used to estimate the treatment effect on time-to-event outcomes in observational studies. J Biopharm Stat 2021; 31:469-489. [PMID: 34403296 DOI: 10.1080/10543406.2021.1918140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The use of real-world data became more and more popular in the pharmaceutical industry. The impact of real-world evidence is now well emphasized by the regulatory authorities. Indeed, the analysis of this type of data can play a key role for treatment efficacy and safety. The aim of this work is to assess various methods and give guidance on the comparisons of drugs, mostly with respect to time-to-event data, in non-randomized studies with potentially confounding variables. For that purpose, several statistical methodologies are compared based on simulation studies. These methodologies belong to family classes of methods that are widely used for this type of problem: regression, matching, weighting and subclassification methods. The evaluation criteria used to compare methods performances are the relative bias, the mean square error, the coverage probability and the width of the confidence interval. In this paper, we consider different scenarios of dataset features in order to study the effect of the sample size, the number of covariates and the magnitude of the treatment effect on the statistical methodologies performances. These statistical analyses are conducted within a proportional hazard model framework. Furthermore, we highlight the advantage of using techniques to identify relevant covariates for time-to-event outcomes by comparing two variable selection methods under a frequentist and a Bayesian inference. Based on simulation results, recommendations on each of the family of methods are provided to guide decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana Jreich
- R&D Data and Data Science, Clinical Modeling & Evidence Integration, Sanofi
| | - Bernard Sebastien
- R&D Data and Data Science, Clinical Modeling & Evidence Integration, Sanofi
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8
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Lee JC, Ahn S, Paik KH, Kim HW, Kang J, Kim J, Hwang JH. Clinical impact of neoadjuvant treatment in resectable pancreatic cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. BMJ Open 2016; 6:e010491. [PMID: 27016245 PMCID: PMC4809107 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2015] [Revised: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although the only curative strategy for pancreatic cancer is surgical resection, up to 85% of patients relapse after surgery. The efficacy of neoadjuvant treatment in resectable pancreatic cancer (RPC) remains unclear and there is no systematic review focusing fully on this issue. Recently, two prospective trials of neoadjuvant treatment in RPC were terminated early because of slow recruiting and existing randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have too small sample sizes. Therefore, to overcome probable biases, it would be more reasonable to include both RCTs and non-randomised studies (NRSs) with selected criteria. This review aims to investigate the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CTx) and chemoradiation therapy (CRT) in RPC using RCTs and specific NRSs. METHOD AND ANALYSIS This systematic review will include conventional RCTs as group I, and quasi-randomised controlled trials, non-randomised controlled trials and prospective cohort studies as group II. Two groups will be assessed and analysed separately. Comprehensive literature search will use Medline, Embase, Cochrane library and Scopus databases. Additionally, we will search references from relevant studies and abstracts from major conferences. Two authors will independently identify, screen, include studies, extract data and assess the risk of bias. Discrepancies will be resolved by consensus with another author. An independent methodologist will categorise and assess NRSs to minimise heterogeneity. In each study group, meta-analysis will be conducted using a random-effect model and statistical heterogeneity will be evaluated using I(2)-statistics. Publication bias will be visualised with contour-enhanced funnel plots and analysed with Egger's test. In group I, cumulative meta-analysis will be considered because the CTx regimen and CRT protocol have changed. The quality of evidence will be summarised using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This review does not use primary data, and formal ethical approval is not required. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and committee conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42015023820.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong-chan Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Soyeon Ahn
- Department of Biostatistics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Kyu-hyun Paik
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Hyoung Woo Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Jingu Kang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Jaihwan Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Jin-Hyeok Hwang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
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9
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Miyazaki C, Moreno Garcia R, Moreno RG, Ota E, Swa T, Oladapo OT, Mori R. Tocolysis for inhibiting preterm birth in extremely preterm birth, multiple gestations and in growth-restricted fetuses: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Reprod Health 2016; 13:4. [PMID: 26762152 PMCID: PMC4712490 DOI: 10.1186/s12978-015-0115-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 12/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This systematic review was to identify available evidence on the effectiveness of tocolysis in inhibiting preterm delivery for women with threatened extremely preterm birth, multiple gestations, and growth-restricted babies, and their infants' outcomes. A comprehensive search using MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, POPLINE and the WHO Global Health Library databases was conducted on 14 February 2014. For selection criteria, randomized controlled trials and non-randomized studies that compared tocolysis treatment to placebo or no treatment were considered. Selection of eligible studies, critical appraisal of the included studies, data collection, meta-analyses, and assessment of evidence quality were performed in accordance with the Cochrane Collaboration's guidance and validated assessment criteria. The search identified seven studies for extremely preterm birth, in which three were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and four were non-randomized studies (non-RCTs). There were no eligible studies identified for women with multiple pregnancy and growth-restricted fetuses. Meta-analyses indicated no significant difference was found for the relative effectiveness of tocolytics versus placebo for prolonging pregnancy in women with extremely preterm birth (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.31) or reducing the rate of perinatal deaths (RR 2.22, 95% CI 0.26 to 19.24). In summary, there is no evidence to draw conclusions on the effectiveness of tocolytic therapy for women with threatened extremely preterm birth, multiple gestations, and growth-restricted babies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine Miyazaki
- Department of Health Policy, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Ralf Moreno Garcia
- Department of Health Policy, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
| | | | - Erika Ota
- Department of Health Policy, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Toshiyuki Swa
- Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Olufemi T Oladapo
- Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Rintaro Mori
- Department of Health Policy, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
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10
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Dersch R, Freitag MH, Schmidt S, Sommer H, Rücker G, Rauer S, Meerpohl JJ. Efficacy and safety of pharmacological treatments for neuroborreliosis--protocol for a systematic review. Syst Rev 2014; 3:117. [PMID: 25336085 PMCID: PMC4207098 DOI: 10.1186/2046-4053-3-117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Accepted: 10/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroborreliosis is a tick-borne infectious disease of the nervous system caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. Common clinical manifestations of neuroborreliosis are cranial nerve dysfunctions, polyradiculoneuritis, and meningitis. Diagnosis is usually based on clinical presentation, serologic testing, and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid. Many aspects of pharmacological treatment, such as choice of drug, dosage, and duration are subject of intense debate, leading to uncertainties in patients and healthcare providers alike. To approach the questions regarding pharmacological treatment of neuroborreliosis, we will perform a systematic review. METHODS We will perform a comprehensive systematic literature search for potentially eligible studies that report outcomes after pharmacological interventions. To adequately consider the wealth of research that has been conducted so far, this review will evaluate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized studies on treatment of neuroborreliosis. We will assess potential risk of bias for each RCT meeting our selection criteria using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for RCTs. For non-randomized studies, we will use the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the recently piloted Cochrane risk of bias tool for non-randomized studies. Our primary outcome of interest will be neurological symptoms and the secondary outcomes will be disability, patient-reported outcomes (quality of life, and, if reported separately from other neurological symptoms, pain, fatigue, depression, cognition, and sleep), adverse events, and cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis. Pooling of data and meta-analysis will only be deemed justified between studies with similar design (e.g., RCTs are only combined with other RCTs), characteristics (e.g., similar populations), and of acceptable heterogeneity (I2 < 80%). Pooled estimates will be calculated using RevMan software. Prespecified subgroup analyses will evaluate groups of antibiotics, length of antibiotic treatment, and different doses of doxycycline. We will assess the quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. DISCUSSION This systematic review will summarize the available evidence from RCTs and non-randomized studies regarding pharmacological treatment of neuroborreliosis. The available evidence will be summarized and discussed to provide a basis for decision-making for patients and healthcare professionals. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO registration number: CRD42014008839.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rick Dersch
- German Cochrane Centre, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Berliner Allee 29, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.
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11
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O'Neil M, Berkman N, Hartling L, Chang S, Anderson J, Motu'apuaka M, Guise JM, McDonagh MS. Observational evidence and strength of evidence domains: case examples. Syst Rev 2014; 3:35. [PMID: 24758494 PMCID: PMC3996500 DOI: 10.1186/2046-4053-3-35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2013] [Accepted: 03/31/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systematic reviews of healthcare interventions most often focus on randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, certain circumstances warrant consideration of observational evidence, and such studies are increasingly being included as evidence in systematic reviews. METHODS To illustrate the use of observational evidence, we present case examples of systematic reviews in which observational evidence was considered as well as case examples of individual observational studies, and how they demonstrate various strength of evidence domains in accordance with current Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) methods guidance. RESULTS In the presented examples, observational evidence is used when RCTs are infeasible or raise ethical concerns, lack generalizability, or provide insufficient data. Individual study case examples highlight how observational evidence may fulfill required strength of evidence domains, such as study limitations (reduced risk of selection, detection, performance, and attrition); directness; consistency; precision; and reporting bias (publication, selective outcome reporting, and selective analysis reporting), as well as additional domains of dose-response association, plausible confounding that would decrease the observed effect, and strength of association (magnitude of effect). CONCLUSIONS The cases highlighted in this paper demonstrate how observational studies may provide moderate to (rarely) high strength evidence in systematic reviews.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Marian S McDonagh
- Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology and Evidence-based Practice Center, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239-3098, USA.
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12
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Dacks PA, Andrieu S, Blacker D, Carman AJ, Green AM, Grodstein F, Henderson VW, James BD, Lane RF, Lau J, Lin PJ, Reeves BC, Shah RC, Vellas B, Yaffe K, Yurko-Mauro K, Shineman DW, Bennett DA, Fillit HM. Dementia Prevention: optimizing the use of observational data for personal, clinical, and public health decision-making. J Prev Alzheimers Dis 2014; 1:117-123. [PMID: 26146610 PMCID: PMC4487813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Worldwide, over 35 million people suffer from Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. This number is expected to triple over the next 40 years. How can we improve the evidence supporting strategies to reduce the rate of dementia in future generations? The risk of dementia is likely influenced by modifiable factors such as exercise, cognitive activity, and the clinical management of diabetes and hypertension. However, the quality of evidence is limited and it remains unclear whether specific interventions to reduce these modifiable risk factors can, in turn, reduce the risk of dementia. Although randomized controlled trials are the gold-standard for causality, the majority of evidence for long-term dementia prevention derives from, and will likely continue to derive from, observational studies. Although observational research has some unavoidable limitations, its utility for dementia prevention might be improved by, for example, better distinction between confirmatory and exploratory research, higher reporting standards, investment in effectiveness research enabled by increased data-pooling, and standardized exposure and outcome measures. Informed decision-making by the general public on low-risk health choices that could have broad potential benefits could be enabled by internet-based tools and decision-aids to communicate the evidence, its quality, and the estimated magnitude of effect.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandrine Andrieu
- UMR 1027 INSERM-University Toulouse III, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Deborah Blacker
- Gerontology Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, and Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | | | | | - Francine Grodstein
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Victor W Henderson
- Department of Health Research & Policy (Epidemiology); Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | - Bryan D. James
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
| | | | - Joseph Lau
- Center for Evidence-based Medicine, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Pei-Jung Lin
- Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health, Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Barnaby C. Reeves
- Clinical Trials and Evaluation Unit, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Raj C. Shah
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
| | - Bruno Vellas
- UMR 1027 INSERM-University Toulouse III, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Kristine Yaffe
- School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | | | | | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
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13
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Higgins JP, Ramsay C, Reeves BC, Deeks JJ, Shea B, Valentine JC, Tugwell P, Wells G. Issues relating to study design and risk of bias when including non-randomized studies in systematic reviews on the effects of interventions. Res Synth Methods 2012; 4:12-25. [PMID: 26053536 DOI: 10.1002/jrsm.1056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2011] [Revised: 06/25/2012] [Accepted: 07/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Non-randomized studies may provide valuable evidence on the effects of interventions. They are the main source of evidence on the intended effects of some types of interventions and often provide the only evidence about the effects of interventions on long-term outcomes, rare events or adverse effects. Therefore, systematic reviews on the effects of interventions may include various types of non-randomized studies. In this second paper in a series, we address how review authors might articulate the particular non-randomized study designs they will include and how they might evaluate, in general terms, the extent to which a particular non-randomized study is at risk of important biases. We offer guidance for describing and classifying different non-randomized designs based on specific features of the studies in place of using non-informative study design labels. We also suggest criteria to consider when deciding whether to include non-randomized studies. We conclude that a taxonomy of study designs based on study design features is needed. Review authors need new tools specifically to assess the risk of bias for some non-randomized designs that involve a different inferential logic compared with parallel group trials. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Pt Higgins
- MRC Biostatistics Unit, Cambridge, U.K.,Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, U.K
| | - Craig Ramsay
- Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, U.K
| | - Barnaby C Reeves
- Bristol Heart Institute, University of Bristol, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, U.K
| | - Jonathan J Deeks
- Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, U.K
| | - Beverley Shea
- Community Information and Epidemiological Technologies, Institute of Population Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Jeffrey C Valentine
- College of Education and Human Development, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | | | - George Wells
- Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
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14
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Austin PC, Laupacis A. A tutorial on methods to estimating clinically and policy-meaningful measures of treatment effects in prospective observational studies: a review. Int J Biostat 2011; 7:6. [PMID: 22848188 DOI: 10.2202/1557-4679.1285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In randomized controlled trials (RCTs), treatment assignment is unconfounded with baseline covariates, allowing outcomes to be directly compared between treatment arms. When outcomes are binary, the effect of treatment can be summarized using relative risks, absolute risk reductions and the number needed to treat (NNT). When outcomes are time-to-event in nature, the effect of treatment on the absolute reduction of the risk of an event occurring within a specified duration of follow-up and the associated NNT can be estimated. In observational studies of the effect of treatments on health outcomes, treatment is frequently confounded with baseline covariates. Regression adjustment is commonly used to estimate the adjusted effect of treatment on outcomes. We highlight several limitations of measures of treatment effect that are directly obtained from regression models. We illustrate how both regression-based approaches and propensity-score based approaches allow one to estimate the same measures of treatment effect as those that are commonly reported in RCTs. The CONSORT statement recommends that both relative and absolute measures of treatment effects be reported for RCTs with dichotomous outcomes. The methods described in this paper will allow for similar reporting in observational studies.
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